HoopsHype.com Rumors

Stars like Al Horford, Jack Michael Martínez, Francisco García, Charlie Villanueva, Eulis Báez, Josh Asselin, Luis Flores and Edgar Sosa have been selected for the preliminary 23-player squad of the (Dominican Republic) national team. dominicanosenbasket.com

Charlie Villanueva, FIBA, Al Horford, Francisco Garcia, Dominican Republic 

Marc Stein: At Olympic press conference in Dallas, Coach K announces that "this is the last time" he plans to coach Team USA in international comp Twitter

Coaching, FIBA, USA Basketball, Team USA, Mike Krzyzewski 

Noah said he still plans to play for France in the London Olympics. "I'm gunning for it," Noah said. "I'm hoping I'll be healthy and able to play." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, FIBA, France, Olympics 

Jeff Zillgitt: France names 18-man preliminary roster for London Olympics. NBAers on list: Batum, Beaubois, Diaw, Mahinmi, Noah, Parker, Seraphin, Turiaf. Twitter

Tony Parker, Kevin Seraphin, FIBA, Rodrigue Beaubois, Ronny Turiaf, Ian Mahinmi, Joakim Noah, France, Boris Diaw, Nicolas Batum 

FIBA Europe Secretary General Nar Zanolin has been sacked in an apparent coup d’etat led by the organisation’s executive committee, currently headed by president Olafur Rafnsson. The shock move, confirmed to MVP by senior sources at FE, comes amid a political battle between the European governing body and its counterparts at FIBA over the future of international basketball. While the Geneva-based FIBA had recent published proposals to move its own World Cup to the year before each Olympics to avoid a clash with its footballing counterpart, Zanolin had led resistance to the idea which would have forced its own EuroBasket – one of its main financial earners – to move to a four-yearly cycle rather than the current two. MVP 24/7

FIBA, Nar Zanolin 

FIBA: You will turn 35 in July. Are the 2012 Olympics going to be your last international competition? Ginobili: I don’t know yet. I’m quite sure it will be my last Olympics because of my age, but I still haven’t decided if I’ll play again with the national team after this summer. I’ll play this competition as if it were the last one, but we never know. If I’m healthy after the Olympics, there’s a possibility for me to keep playing for Argentina. I’ll decide at the end of the summer. FIBA.com

Manu Ginobili, FIBA, Argentina, Olympics 

FIBA: Do you think Argentina has a chance to win a medal in London? Ginobili: Yes I think so. Our team is talented and we have a group of players who know perfectly how to play together. It will be difficult to reach the gold because teams like the USA and Spain look superior to the others, but I’m sure that we can fight for a medal. FIBA.com

Manu Ginobili, FIBA, Argentina, Olympics 

Winning an Olympic gold medal has been a goal of Rose's, but he may never get the chance if what NBA Commissioner David Stern told ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd on Monday becomes a reality. "My own view is that post-London, we should be thinking about what soccer does and make it 23 and under," Stern said. Chicago Sun-Times

FIBA, USA Basketball, David Stern, Olympics 

There's an increasing sentiment that the current U.S. Olympic model isn't working. Dwyane Wade and Ray Allen both suggested players should be paid for participating. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban complained to Greg Couch of FoxSports.com last week that NBA owners allow their assets to make millions for the U.S. Olympic Committee while receiving nothing in return. "It's the biggest mistake the NBA makes,'' Cuban told Couch. "If you look up stupid in the dictionary, you see a picture of the USA Dream Team playing for free for corporate America so the U.S. Olympic Committee can make millions of dollars. If you come up with something that you own, that you give it to me for free so I can make billions of dollars, I want it. "And it has nothing to do with patriotism. It's all about money. You don't see the Olympic Committee saying, 'Oh we made so much money. Let's give it to people.'" Chicago Sun-Times

Dallas Mavericks, FIBA, Mark Cuban, USA Basketball, David Stern, Olympics 

Al-Farouq Aminu: In DC right now applying for my Nigerian passport. This is so cool for two reasons I am going to be able to travel and play basketball for my dad country. Tumblr

New Orleans Hornets, Al-Farouq Aminu, FIBA, Nigeria 

Tom Withers: #Cavs GM Chris Grant says he will not discourage Anderson Varejao from playing for Brazil in London Olympics. Twitter

Cleveland Cavaliers, FIBA, Chris Grant, Anderson Varejao, Brazil 

Marc J. Spears: For my friends in the Dominican Republic, Hawks Al Horford says he plans on playing for his native country in Olympic qualifying tourney. Twitter

Atlanta Hawks, FIBA, Al Horford, Injuries, Dominican Republic 

Mark Cuban comes off as an unpatriotic, unapologetic, typical money-first, damn-the-flag, ugly-American businessman. But listen closer. Deeper. Does he think the U.S. Olympic basketball team is a shambles? “I hope so,’’ the Dallas Mavericks owner told FOXSports.com. “Maybe that’ll be my next business. F--- up the Olympics.’’ FOXSports.com

Dallas Mavericks, FIBA, Mark Cuban, USA Basketball 

By the time he was done, you couldn’t help but to think he is one cynical SOB. You always realized that he was just telling a cold truth about the Olympic spirit and ideal. “It’s the biggest mistake the NBA makes,’’ he said. “If you look up stupid in the dictionary, you see a picture of the USA Dream Team playing for free for corporate America so the U.S. Olympic Committee can make millions of dollars. If you come up with something that you own, that you give it to me for free so I can make billions of dollars, I want it. “And it has nothing to do with patriotism. It’s all about money. You don’t see the Olympic Committee saying, 'Oh we made so much money. Let’s give it to people.' '' FOXSports.com

Dallas Mavericks, FIBA, Mark Cuban, USA Basketball 

Emiliano Carchia: Ricky Rubio confirmed that he will not play Olympic Games in London next summer Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, FIBA, Ricky Rubio, Spain 

Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng is one of three NBA players who have agreed to play on Britain's Olympic team. British basketball says Deng, Detroit Pistons guard Ben Gordon and Charlotte Bobcats center Byron Mullens have "confirmed their availability and commitment" to play at the Olympics. They are part of a 21-man preliminary squad. WCBD-TV 2

Charlotte Bobcats, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Luol Deng, FIBA, Ben Gordon, Great Britain, BJ Mullens 

But when the Swedes participate in the Eurobasket 2013 Qualifiers, from mid-August through mid-September, Jerebko won't be wearing one. “I'm very disappointed,” he said. “Of course, I want to represent my country and play. But I'm looking forward to next summer and joining them again, and I wish them all the luck this summer. I'm definitely going to keep a close eye on it. “I know my teammates, on that team, will understand my decision after coming off an injury like that, so I'm not really worried about it. I'm just looking forward to playing with them next summer and I wish them all the luck.” Booth Newspapers

Detroit Pistons, FIBA, Jonas Jerebko, Sweden 

The FIBA Europe Board which convened in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, this weekend discussed the new calendar proposal brought forward by the world governing body, FIBA. The Board of FIBA Europe decided that the part of the proposal eliminating the two-year cycle of the EuroBasket is against the interests of its member Federations. In 2010, FIBA Europe increased the number of the teams participating in the EuroBasket finals to 24, while as of 2015 the EuroBasket Women will also be played with 20 teams. FIBA Europe

FIBA 

The FIBA Europe Board which convened in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, this weekend discussed the new calendar proposal brought forward by the world governing body, FIBA. The Board of FIBA Europe decided that the part of the proposal eliminating the two-year cycle of the EuroBasket is against the interests of its member Federations. TalkBasket

FIBA 

Germany will need to finish in the top two of their group, or as one of the four best third-place teams in the six groups. "I'm thrilled because of this new opportunity,” Pesic said. “For years, Germany put just too much emphasis on (Dirk) Nowitzki, but there is young talent that can create something new, yet - successful like in Dirk's most brilliant seasons.” Does Nowitzki figure into Pesic's plans? "I believe that Nowitzki isn't expecting my call," Pesic said. FIBA.com

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, FIBA, Germany